Humiliation turned to rage

With nothing else to do, Tianyang checked his status.

As soon as the thought arose, a set of data appeared clearly in his mind.

Avenger class

Rank 1: Assassin

Abilities: Weakness Sense, One-Strike Annihilation

Ascension progress: 40%

Next rank: Eradicator

Hmm, my ascension progress went up a full 12%. Looks like the Ghost Car really was an extremely dangerous member of the Children of Darkness.

Through his explorations over the past few days, Tianyang had begun to understand a few things.

Apart from the inexplicable 10% increase when he killed Qin Wu last time, his ascension progress only grew when he killed dangerous Darkfolk.

The first time, killing the Demon Hound had raised it by 4%.

This time, killing the Ghost Car had given him three times that increase.

But that did not mean three Demon Hounds were equivalent to one Ghost Car. After all, Tianyang had hunted the Demon Hound alone, whereas killing the Ghost Car had taken the combined efforts of many people-and a fair bit of luck.

In other words, if he could hunt down a Ghost Car alone, the increase in his ascension progress might be astonishing.

Of course, that was something he could only dream about.

He glanced back. That irritating fellow Zhou Wang was still there, so Tianyang simply closed his eyes for a nap.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Hunger woke the boy. Judging by the time, it should have been evening outside the Klaft Gate.

It was time for dinner.

Tianyang stood up and realized there were few passengers left around him. Luo Shan and Xun were not in their seats, and even Zhou Wang was nowhere to be seen. They had probably gone to the dining car.

At the thought, his stomach began to rumble, and he hurried out of the carriage.

Meanwhile, Xun walked out of the dining car. Her teacher wanted to have a drink before returning, so she had left ahead of her.

In no hurry to return to the carriage, the girl stood beside a window in the corridor after her meal.

Watching the scenery of the Inverse Realm silently recede outside, Xun drifted into thought.

On her way to Lighthouse Base, she had been an obscure little nurse. Now, returning to the Fortress, she was already an Ascender. Moreover, Luo Shan had explicitly told her that she would receive Upper Citizen status upon her return.

Upper Citizen status came with numerous privileges. As an Ascender-and one of the Radiance Class at that-she would receive even more resources.

The girl had not considered the distant future, but just thinking of her father receiving treatment and her younger brother living a better life...

A contented smile appeared on Xun's face.

Suddenly, a soft cough sounded behind her.

She turned as though jolted by electricity and saw Zhou Wang. Naturally, she had no fondness whatsoever for this man, and she turned to leave.

Zhou Wang hurried forward two steps to block her way, wearing what he imagined was a charming smile. "Miss Xun, could you spare me a moment? There are a few things I'd like to say to you."

"I don't want to hear them," Xun said stiffly. "Please move aside. Thank you."

Zhou Wang adopted a remorseful tone. "I know I frightened you back at the base. But please believe me, I only behaved so inappropriately because I was captivated by your beauty. I've come to apologize today, and I hope you can forgive my forwardness."

"Fine, I've heard your apology. Can you move aside now?" Xun's tone had grown impatient. She could see nothing resembling sincerity in Zhou Wang's eyes.

Zhou Wang maintained his smile. "Actually, besides apologizing, I have a suggestion. I hope you'll hear me out, Miss Xun."

Then, regardless of whether she wanted to listen, Zhou Wang continued, "I think we'd make a very good match. Miss Xun, have you ever considered marriage? Please believe me, I'd be more than willing to care for a woman as beautiful and gentle as you."

Xun shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not considering marriage at the moment."

Zhou Wang persisted shamelessly. "Then you certainly could consider it. First, I'm a Rank 2 Elementalist. Within the elemental heart class, I have every potential to reach Rank 5, Stormbringer. There's no question about that. Quite a few members of my family have reached that level, and I can absolutely do the same."

"Second, the Zhou Family was founded over sixty years ago. I'm a fourth-generation descendant, yet I still retain our surname. You must have heard that clan-founding rights stipulate that, after the third generation, fourth-generation descendants must earn ten thousand contribution points every year to retain their surname. So you see, that alone is another testament to the Zhou Family's strength."

"Therefore, if you're willing to marry me, you'll receive the Zhou Family's full support. You'll become the brightest star in the Fortress. Frankly, opportunities like this don't come along every day."

"What do you say, Miss Xun? If you're willing, I can formally propose to you right now."

Xun refused almost without thinking. "I'm not willing."

Zhou Wang froze. This was not quite how he had imagined things going. She was a Lower Citizen woman, even if she had lucked into becoming an Ascender-and one of the rare Radiance Class at that.

Even so, the most she would receive was Upper Citizen status and its privileges. But if a family like his valued her and devoted resources to cultivating her, her prospects would truly be limitless.

Zhou Wang simply could not imagine what reason Xun had to refuse.

What right did she have to refuse!

The girl could no longer be bothered to ask him to move. She simply walked around him, only for Zhou Wang to seize her hand.

"What are you doing? Let go!"

Xun's expression shifted slightly when she saw the frightening look on Zhou Wang's face.

Zhou Wang was still smiling, but his smile had turned vicious. "You won't do this the easy way, so we'll do it the hard way! Xun, if I remember correctly, you're still a Lower Citizen, aren't you? That means I can still exercise my rights as an Upper Citizen."

Xun's pupils contracted slightly, and she opened her mouth to scream.

A hand clamped over her mouth.

Zhou Wang snorted. "Once I've had you, we'll see whether you still refuse to marry me!"

Just then, the corridor door opened, and someone stepped inside.

Zhou Wang and the newcomer came face-to-face, and both cried out almost simultaneously, "You!"

The newcomer was Tianyang. Seeing the scene before him, the boy's expression immediately darkened. "What are you doing? Let her go!"

Zhou Wang felt a fire burning in his chest. He simply could not understand why this white-haired brat always appeared at the crucial moment to ruin things for him!

He had spent so long planning for this moment.

Zhou Wang had thought it through. Once Xun returned to the Fortress and her Radiance Class was announced, plenty of families there would extend an olive branch to her. And those families would undoubtedly be stronger than the Zhou Family.

So he intended to make her his before she reached the Fortress. He was even willing to resort to dirty methods.

Just as he was doing now.

But he had never expected Tianyang to appear again at this precise moment!

"This is none of your business. I'm warning you, you'd better stay out of-" Before Zhou Wang could finish his warning, his vision blurred, and a fist rapidly grew larger before his eyes.

Then his vision went black. Zhou Wang screamed as Tianyang's punch sent him stumbling backward.

Only then did Xun breathe a sigh of relief. She gave Tianyang a grateful look, then suddenly cried out, "Watch out!"

Humiliated and enraged, Zhou Wang had activated his Star Essence. Elemental light flowed through his hand as a gray-white elemental spear began to take shape.

Tianyang snorted. His figure flickered, trailing a faint silver glow as he darted to Zhou Wang's side and drove a fist into his ribs.

Zhou Wang cried out in pain. The spear's light scattered, the agony leaving him unable to concentrate.

Tianyang swept out a leg and knocked him down, then kicked the back of Zhou Wang's head. The violent impact knocked him unconscious.

Luo Shan happened to walk out of the dining car just then. Seeing the scene, she paused in surprise. "What's going on here? Xun, are they fighting over you?"

PS: Thanks to [Stargazer in the Night Sky] and [Young Master Jiang] for the tips. It's a new week, so please keep supporting me. Five updates today!

PS2: Haha, I finally figured out where to check the tipping records~~